Anderson Silva will make his return to the octagon on Jan. 31 against Nick Diaz after suffering a gruesome leg injury in his last fight. But how much longer can we expect to see "The Spider" competing in the UFC?
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When he faces Diaz at UFC 183, it will be 13 months since Silva broke his left tibia and fibula at UFC 168 against middleweight champion Chris Weidman. It will be Silva's first middleweight non-title fight since 2007, and even if he said wins he won't be making another run at the championship. In an interview with Fantastico, Silva revealed how he views his future.
"I'm over this thing of being champion, having the title," he said. "The truth is, there will only be one Ayrton Senna, there will only be one Pele, and there will only be one Anderson Silva, so whoever saw me (as champion), saw me.
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"Who haven't seen me (as champion), won't see it," he continued. "In a way you'll see me (fight again), but not for the belt, that thing of being champion again. I don't have patience for this. I think I'm closer to retirement every day."
An interesting revelation from the man known as the greatest mixed martial artist of all-time, as he previously said he's willing to finish his contract with the UFC that has seven fights remaining on it. But after a six-year run as the middleweight champion, it's understandable that Silva won't be motivated to continue fighting if he isn't vying for the title.
As for his upcoming bout with Diaz, Silva said he's yet to return to form because he's struggling with self-confidence to kick like he used to before the injury.
"I've worked with a psychologist so I can get rid of the ghosts of those horrible moments of that fight, when I had that accident," he said of his fight with Weidman in December. "I'm a little apprehensive in training. I know I can execute the movement, but I end up not doing it for fear.
"Yeah, I won't get hurt. I know I won't get hurt, but fear is natural," he added. "I don't want to feel that pain ever again. No way."
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